SLATE Truck Debuts as a Pickup convertible-to SUV. Priced Under $20K With Incentive

[Administrator]

5 Star Crash Safety Rating goals being met in early crash tests says Slate Chief Engineer

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[trev5150]

What market is this for?

1000lbs towing
Rwd only.
5ft bed

Landscaping companies...

 

[Maxx]

Although they are completely different vehicles, I wonder how many Aptera reservation holders will jump into this if they both make it to production at the same time.

 

[trev5150]

Although they are completely different vehicles, I wonder how many Aptera reservation holders will jump into this if they both make it to production at the same time.

Aptera

Aptera (cockroach)

 

[Maxx]

Aptera

Aptera (cockroach)

Thanks for the education. It does look like it. I never got comfortable with three wheel setup. It kinda guarantees that pothole will get you. Two or 4 wheels for me. And if I want efficiency, I just drive slow.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

The best ranch trucks I ever had were 2WD long bed Datsuns.

The biggest fail of the Slate is the bed size. It should be 6.5-8 feet long. It would be nice if it had up to 5k towing as well. Maybe 6500.

Lower, lighter, smaller trucks are better than big trucks for about 85% of the ranch work I've had to do over 45 years of ranching. The F-150 of today is not a very good ranch/work truck. The bed is too high, the bed is too small, the truck is too heavy. Sure, it can tow 10k pounds, but for my purposes, that's useful a couple times a year at most.

The Lighting is a great minivan with outside storage. It's great for road tripping. It's a PITA to drive and park in the city. It's a PITA to load stuff into the bed. It's a PITA to unload.

I really love my Lightning, but would also love a smaller all-electric truck the size of an old Datsun/Nissan.

 

[ChrisCon]

didn't have an infant I'd seriously consider buying on

So I have an almost 14 year old. I watched the presentation and then threw my 50 dollars into the ring because with the inevitable delays of all EV startups, this becomes an awesome first vehicle for him where we typically would have purchased him something used.

He wants an EV like his dad drives so it's, potentially, a perfect fit

 

[ryun]

So I have an almost 14 year old. I watched the presentation and then through my 50 dollars into the ring because with the inevitable delays of all EV startups, this becomes an awesome first vehicle for him where we typically would have purchased him something used.

He wants an EV like his dad drives so it's, potentially, a perfect fit

Nice! Great idea actually. I've got some time. My kiddo isn't even 14 months old yet hahah

 

[davehu]

What market is this for?

1000lbs towing
Rwd only.
5ft bed

and only 150 miles range

 

[CyclopsThere]

I'm excited to see more trucks come in to play, especially reversing the size bloat problem we have now. The truck looks great to me. But the price is on paper well ahead of release. I remember when they said you could get a Model 3 for under 30k before release. At release you couldn't get out the door for less than 40 IIRC. So I'm taking that price point with a tiny grain of salt until I see one for actual sale

 

[davehu]

Specs are not very good IMHO
20% to 80% charge under 30 minutes (so 29.5 minutes?)for a 52kWh battery and it is controlled by an app on your phone?-hard pass!

On the plus side, it is cool that it is very customizable-but that is where they probably get you!

and there are sooooo many third party options for a truck that has an installed base of zero

 

[Administrator]

Engineering deep dive: Slate EV truck chassis, body, battery, safety, suspension

 

[ryun]

and only 150 miles range

That's their standard range. Their extended range is 240 miles.

Not gonna lie, I'd have probably purchased a 150 mile range Lightning if it were $10K-15K cheaper.

 

[davehu]

and then you'd be living to regret it.... or looking to trade it in!

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

and then you'd be living to regret it.... or looking to trade it in!

Or daily driving it and enjoying for a few years until the next generation of batteries come to market - were in early stages with EV's, there will be rapid advancements over the next decade...s.

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